Fingerless Mitts...Love Them? Hate Them? Don't Understand Them?

People seem to fall into one of three camps when it comes to fingerless mitts.  They either love them and use them all the time, hate them and would never consider making or buying them or just don't understand why anyone would want them.

I fall firmly in the love them group.

During the transitional weather of spring and autumn, or in office spaces where the air conditioning is on just a little too much, I wear them alone.  I find that keeping my palms and wrists warm really does help keep my fingertips warm as well, and I can still do things like type or knit while wearing them.

When the winter weather rolls in I will wear them over the thin "magic gloves" that can be picked up at many a dollar store, and when it is really cold will add a pair of thick cozy mittens over the other two layers.

The ones pictured above are my latest new release knitting pattern.  Available for purchase through Ravelry, Payhip and LoveCrafts these mitts have a, rather nifty if I do say so myself, cable that snugs up the wrist a bit for a good fit but also uses rather stretchy ribbing to allow them to fit a wide range of hand sizes.

 

I don't usually offer discounts on new releases to anyone that isn't a subscriber to my newsletter, but I am offering a discount on this one to help cover the cost of my insurance deductible having unfortunately had a head on encounter with a deer this past week.  Use coupon code Deduct25 on either Ravelry or Payhip to get a special 25% off the normal price through November 7th, 2021.

 

Until next time...Happy Knitting!

 

~M

Shout!

Finally I can explain why there have been so many quiet weeks on the blog!

Presenting...

MittStar!

What Is It?

MittStar Vol 1 is the first volume of our eBook on Fingerless mitts. We have 3 mitts patterns, 4 tutorials and lots of advice (and a bonus pattern too)!  Written and the patterns were designed by...me!

What’s In the Book?

The book is over 50 pages long.

You get:

• Why make mitts and the Anatomy of a Mitt – including an illustration!

• Step-by-step instructions and pics for: Old Norweigan/Twisted German Cast On, Chinese Waitress Cast On, Long Tail Tubular Cast On and the Tubular Cast On using Waste Yarn
•  
• Charts for measurements and cast on numbers for a variety of weights of yarn and sizes
• Average lengths of cuffs from children to men.

• 3  Fingerless Mitt patterns
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Ever So Basic Mitts
    
    
    
  • Thumb Gusset Mitts
  • Warming Up the Scrolling Mitts
  • 
• Bonus Cuff Pattern
  • Flirty Leaves Cuffs
  • 
• Lots of info on making mitts and just improving your knitting in general!

It has been a lot of work, and an awful lot of fun, working on this project with Knotions!

You can buy it now from Knotions or on Ravelry.

Thanks need to go out to Kellie Nuss Photography for the wonderful modeled pictures. the model @adaezelive and of course, Jody, the editor and founder of Knotions for all the hard work!

And now, I am off to knit some cabled socks for the Knotions KAL on Ravelry (and double dip by counting those stitches towards NaKnitMo

Callie's Braids

 

I think that spring has finally sprung in Central Ohio...the past few days have been glorious!  A slight chill to the air in the mornings, with gentle breezes and sunshine in the afternoons!

Perfect weather for layering your favorite knitted goods....fingerless mitts on early morning walks, or when the air-conditioning in the office is a little too much.

Callies Braids...


Materials

Jenny Watson Pure Merino, Double Knitting 100% Merino, 124 meters/50 gms. Shown in WM7.
Size US 4 [3.5mm] circular or double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Smooth scrap yarn, large eyed tapestry needle for weaving in ends, cable needle.
Gauge: 40 sts and 18 rows to 4 inches [5cm] in cable pattern.

You can get your own copy of the pattern here....and browse the rest of my designs here.

Lots of things on my needles right now, and two more patterns to share with you in just a couple of weeks...but until then...

Happy Knitting!

~M

A Pair of Mitts for a Friend

Every now and then, someone I know will ask me to knit for them.

If they are "knit worthy" and I have the time and yarn, I can sometimes be talked into it.  Other times I will find an excuse not to...but there are people, those who have taken really good care of the things I have made them in the past (or my kids) who I will try my best to accomodate.

One such friend asked me if I could make her some fingerless mitts.

So this happened.....

Jenny Watson Merino DK in the exciting colorway WM7.

Lots of ribbing makes them very form fitting and the merino is soft and squishy!

I really like how the cables starting at the wrist snug up the mitts to keep you warm, without having to do a lot of changing of stitch counts.

Of course now TDQ wants a pair as well...so soon I will be casting on another pair!

In the mean time, the pattern is with my tech editor and I am working on a baby blanket, and learning how to crochet a dishcloth!

A Little Bit of Colorwork and a Lot of Fun

One of the things about being a knitter....it seems like I am always working on things for a season that isn't here yet.  For instance...

Late last summer I was madly knitting away on replacement hats and mittens, neck warmers and warm socks, while last week I was working on sporty little summer things.

Knitting "out of season" means that the things I want to wear or share with my family to wear, are ready when the time is right, but...that does make photo shoots a little interesting.

The day that TDQ and I were both available to do photo shoots for both my Agalina Shawl and these fingerless mitts, was hot!  Trying our best to project an image of Fall/Early Spring and even winter in August was hard!  So we brought out some props and hoped for the best.

And then before I knew it, holiday knitting season was well upon me and the mitts got pushed to the side until that was done!

 

So, how's about a closer look?

Knit with two (or more) colors of fingering weight yarn (I used Knit Picks Stroll and Felici) with a corrugated rib and easy colorwork, these mitts are the perfect introduction to working with more than one color at a time. 

The three sizes are made simply by changing your needle size and gauge. (So no trying to decide which number applies to your size when reading the pattern!.)

By reversing which is the main color and which is the contrast color, it is possible to get a pair of  longer gauntlet style mitts and the shorter pair from just the two balls of yarn.  (Knit one pair for you and another for a friend...or if you are prone to the "missing mitt" issue that sometimes plagues my kids, knit them all the same and keep them for yourself!.)

The pattern is available now, in my Ravelry Store!

I hope you like them as my as TDQ and I do!

~M